Outside Reading- Week 3 post A

Vocabulary-

lavaliere: an ornamental pendant, usually jeweled, worn on a chain around the neck. n.

gaunt: extremely thin and bony; haggard and drawn, as from great hunger, weariness, or torture.


Appeals-

1)Morrie is discussing the common theme in the memoir, death, and he says, "Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it, If we did, we would do things differently"(81). This is very true. We all know in the back of our minds that we'll all eventually pass one day, but we never think that would actually happen to us. Admittedly, even though I'm reading a book all about dying and learning life's lessons, I too forget that one day I will die. Everyone I know will die, but even though this memoir consistently speaks of death I still read it as though death is not in my life's plan. I think that we do this because to us we picture death far far away where it doesn't make us worry or even think about it that much. If it is brought up we worry about it for a brief moment, then it passes. What we have to realize is that we all are going to die, even if we may not think of it now, it will happen, and until that time we can make our lives as meaningful as possible and enjoy it while we have it.

2)Along the lines of the previous appeal, Morrie even admits himself that he also once thought that death couldn't touch him. He says, " I was like everyone else. I once told a friend of mine, in a moment of exuberance, 'I'm gonna be the healthiest old man you ver met!' "(82) This just even further proves that we deny death. Morrie was in his sixties when he said that, and also a probably pretty healthy old man. We think that just because we are healthy and doing well in life that we don't carry the risk of dying, but family history of poor health can kick in and end the healthy spree. Morrie was a healthy old man and before he knew it he had a fatal diesease. Death is something we can't stop or avoid. We may try to fight it, but I believe that if it happens it's suposed to happen.

3) Morrie discusses "spiritual" things with Mitch at one of their weekly meetings. Morrie tells Mitch looking out a window," You see that? You can go out there anytime. You can run up and down that block and go crazy. I can't do that. I can't go out. I can't run. I can't be out there without fear of getting sick. But you know what? I appreciate that window more than you do" (84). In this quote Morrie admits to his disability and the saddness it makes him feel, but at the same time he tells Mitch that even though he can do such things, he appreciates what he can do, and that most other people don't. Morrie kind of brags about what he can do that Mitch doesn't do, because Mitch and people in general can do things such as running, which Morrie can't do, but Morrie can appreciate a view from a window more than anyone else. They both just have different "talents"if I may.

Quote-

"The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family. It's become quite clear to me as I've been sick. If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important. As our great poet Auden said,' Love each other or perish' "(91). This quote is significant because it is true. We need family, even if they are not blood related, we need those people in our lives who care and support you. Also, the quote " Love eachother or perish" becomes one of the most frequently repeated quotes because it only makes sense.

Theme-

An insipient theme is that you must love in order to live. Life's greatest gift is love and that we have to use it to come out of life with meaning. Also, another theme is learning to accept what you have done and to make what you do non- regretful.